Kids should stand on public transport?

[Loulou599]

I was on a crowded 1.5 hour train where half of the passengers were standing. There were 3 kids ( not together, each with an adult) who were sitting in a seat, I would guess they were all roughly the same age, around 6 years old.
I thought that kids that age should either stand or sit on their parents lap (I know that's not the most comfortable but standing for an hour and a half isn't either).
What do you think? I just thought it was messed up that these kids were chilling in seats while you had a lot of people in their 50s/60s (not old, not visibly in discomfort) standing, but then I wondered whether it's harder for a child to stand at that age (I don't have kids).

So we adults can kick elderly people out of their seats then?

It’s only your seats if you book them.

Never thought of that. Maybe under the seat would be better as they would have difficulty climbing up.

My child needs a seat more than I do so I give up my seat when needed. My husband (early 30s) is expecting a hip replacement in a month so he cannot stand on a moving vehicle. If he is travelling with DS they will both need a seat. I'd love to see someone try and shift them because of "respect"

Yeah but if their arse is already in the seat, it's 'their' seat in that sense.

Sorry posted too soon.

You know like when you're in a cafe and the staff ask what your table number is? I'm aware that it is not actually 'your' table, but the one you are occupying.

Do you apply the same logic to oap concessions?

Children and OAPs get concessions because of income levels.

This thread is bonkers. Why would a 6 year old get up for an adult? Makes not one jot of sense.

@Loulou599 do you even have children? Or have any experience of what it is like to raise children? The only person sounding entitled on this thread is you, expecting a young child who hasn’t fully developed to stand for an hour or more so a fully grown able bodied adult can sit down.

I was on a busy train last week, rammed with no seating. Woman had her dog on a seat. I asked her to move the dog so I could sit. Apparently the dog was 'sick' so unable to move.... I couldn't be bothered to argue as was so flabbergasted by the entitlement, but I should have suggested she put the dog on her lap. Sick or not, dogs don't pay for train tickets.

YABU. I'm always amazed at how many people forget that children are also people.
And if you need a seat - ask for a seat, someone will stand for you.

My dad has just received his free bus pass. I must remind him that he can no longer sit down in case a 20-60 year old needs a seat

Well they can defo stand if a 50 year old paying person gets on! Where are their manners!

This - we went on a train today I paid for all the tickets they all got a seat. Coming home they needed it even more as they were exhausted

He can sit, it just has to be on a luggage rack!

I would NEVER make my child stand so an adult could sit.

If someone elderly/pregnant etc needed a seat, I would stand and model to my children how to behave as an adult. Children too are worthy of respect, they are not second class citizens, nor are they subservient to adults.

Not treating children with respect leads to them becoming adults who think like this:

Such precious children. We were given a clip on the ear if we didn't immediately give our seat to an adult standing.

No wonder some kids are such raving shrieking screaming monsters. They are indulged. Two younger kids could share a seat, and there are many ways around it, but the parents won't disturb their precious kids, because they are ENTITLED to their seat.

The foot stomping demanding horrors of the future are in the making, all because parents will not parent.

But OP said if they're too big to lift above your head they are big enough to stand.
It's only babies we stow on luggage racks 🙄🙄

Able bodied adults should stand if necessary. Why would we expect this of six year olds 😵‍💫

I would have moved the dog myself. Dogs are not allowed on seats in trains. Sick or not it can just lie on the floor.

Why are you more off a priority than a young child? I certainly never told my overtired dd today to give up her seat on a busy packed train today absolutely not first come first served as saying going!!

Children are people too. They are not less people because they are small. I would stand before i get the kids to stand and i would encourage them to stand if someone got on who was early disabled or at risk of a fall but otherwise I wouldn't make them stand for random adults and i wont sit a kid on my knee, i would find it overwhelming sensory wise on a crowded bus to do that (autistic)

Cos they're 6! That's why they aren't entitled to be safe.
You don't see sea turtles helping their kids cross the beach at hatching time. Teaches them god damn resilience and respect!
I'm amazed kids are even allowed inside the vehicle. Back in my day we had to run alongside.

Look, I try to avoid rush hour with children (apart from anything else, it's not a fun time to travel), but sometimes it's not possible to avoid being on the train at such times - all manner of reasons which you as a mother of one on maternity leave probably haven't thought about or experience yet. I sincerely hope you aren't standing there huffing and puffing and fuming at people who have children on the train at busy times; you don't know why they are there.

If your dad gets on the bus and their is a seat then it's his, if your dad can stand and isn't vulnerable and their is no seat he stands simple!

Nah cos he doesn't pay therefore he isn't entitled to a seat. That's what's PP said